MEMORIES came flooding back for the first visitors to the Bolton Evening News photographic exhibition in Westhoughton Library

On display are nostalgic images of the town's fascinating past, present and future. Many of the pictures have been selected from our extensive archives.

And for one of the first visitors, there was a surprise in store.

Audrey Harrison ,spotted pictures from our archives which featured her husband Neil Harrison and grandson Jack Harrison, aged nine, remembering the miners who died in the Pretoria Pit disaster of 1912 at two separate memorial services.

She said: "It was real surprise to walk in and see those two faces on the pictures. I remember the photographs being taken, but I had no idea I would see them again at this exhibition.

"We were thrilled. They're really nice pictures and the memorial service is something we go to each year.

"The exhibition was very interesting and it was nice to see photos that bring back a lot of memories."

Mrs Harrison Westhoughton, has herself donated to the exhibition a collection of pictures showing Rose Queen celebrations in Fourgates in 1948.

The display -- in Westhoughton Library at the rear of the town hall -- was officially opened by Bolton Evening News editor Steve Hughes.

It will run until Friday, February 6 during normal library opening hours and visitors will have a chance to meet Bolton Evening News staff from Monday to Friday between 11am and 12 noon.

The opening of the exhibition was staged in partnership with the Westhoughton Library and ASDA.